backup PG Some facts: It's his 3rd year, which Neil considers a breakout year. Neil has specifically not obtained a backup PG, so Stotts can't play an actual backup PG Neil has called him the most talented player he's ever drafted. Neil is very protective of players he drafts. He will definitely get a shot. That's why people who have suggested trading him are basically uninformed. No way Neil gives up on him so easily unless he got a very high lotto pick or near all star, which no one would offer.
CJ is one of the best players in the NBA at getting his own shot. Trading him would make Dame’s job even harder.
IIRC, the last time I looked, Dame and the Blazers were something like 12-5 when CJ was out. That's a 58 win pace
I keep seeing you guys posting minutes next to guys names, trying to spread them out. If I'm not mistaken it will be VERY rare that more than 9 guys even play. Maybe 10. Am I wrong?
I think you're right on. Unless it's a blowout or we have serious injury problems we have 10 really good guys that will be fighting for every minute among themselves. That doesn't mean Stotts won't tighten up the rotation to under 10, I just think we have 10 really good players this season. Nas, Ant, Giles, Elleby and whoever else we get will be on the bench.
Quite correct Jeff Fahey. Dame(36)/CJ (12) (Simons, spot minutes here and there, especially early in the season) CJ (24) /Trent (24) Hood (32) /DJJ (16) (Is Hood ready to start the season?) RoCo (32) /Melo (16) Nurkic (30)/Kanter (18) And that is with Collins not back to start the season. Little, CJEll, and Giles get blowout or foul trouble minutes.
Bro there's not even close to being enough minutes to go around. We might have the best 10th-13th men in the league.
Right now I'd say Dame CJ DJJ RoCo Nurk Melo GTJ Hood Collins Kanter There are 240 total minutes available. I'm not even looking at positions. I'm going off what I think each player should be playing. 34 for Dame 34 for CJ 30 for Nurk That leaves 142 Roco 30 DJJ 28 Melo 24 GTJ 24 That leaves 36 minutes. Kanter 18 Hood 18 I think Collins gets Kanter's minutes when he comes back. Maybe drop Nurk to 28ish so he stays fresh. I think it depends on the matchup.
With the depth we have this season Stotts needs to be able to keep Dame's minutes somewhere around 35 for the regular season
unless Simons takes a jump, I can’t see that happening, just out of necessity. There’s a huge drop off in the way the offense flows when Dame is off the court. I get that he’s Dame, but CJ as the backup point has never worked well. Doesn’t even make sense, because he looks fine as the lead guard when Dame is out. Olshey better be right about Simons, because if not, it’ll be an issue and Dame will be forced to play 38 minutes again.